If we report what another person has

said, we usually do not use the speaker’s

exact words (direct speech), but reported

speech (indirect) .

When transforming statements, check whether

you have to change:

pronouns

present tense verbs (3rd person singular)

place and time expressions

tenses (backshift)

Example

direct speech

“I speak English.”

English.reported speech

He said that he spoke English.

Rewrite the sentences in reported speech. Change pronouns and time expressions where necessary.

She said, "I am reading."→ She said that ____________________

They said, "We are busy."→ They said that ___________________

He said, "I know a better restaurant."→ He said that _____________________

She said, "I woke up early."→ She said that ____________________

He said, "I will ring her."→ He said that _____________________

They said, "We have just arrived."→ They said that _________________

He said, "I will clean the car."→ He said that ___________________

She said, "I did not say that."→ She said that __________________

She said, "I don't know where my shoes are."→ She said that __________________

He said: "I won't tell anyone."→ He said that ____________________

REPORTING QUESTIONS

"Where is my umbrella?" she asked.→ She asked _______________________

"How are you?" Martin asked us.→ Martin asked us ___________________

He asked, "Do I have to do it?"→ He asked ________________________

"Where have you been?" the mother asked her daughter.→ The mother asked her daughter ________

"Which dress do you like best?" she asked her boyfriend.→ She asked her boyfriend _______________

"What are they doing?" she asked.

→ She wanted to know ________________

"Are you going to the cinema?" he asked me.

→ He wanted to know _________________

The teacher asked, "Who speaks English?"

→ The teacher wanted to know __________

"How do you know that?" she asked me.

→ She asked me ______________________

"Has Caron talked to Kevin?" my friend asked

me.

→ My friend asked me __________________

When transforming questions,also note

that you have to:

transform the question into an indirect

question

use the interrogative or if / whether

Interrogative direct speech

“Why don’t you speak English?”

reported speech

He asked me why I didn’t speak English

Direct:

“Do you speak English?”

reported speech:

He asked me whether / if I spoke English.